WACO—Baylor University regents authorized a fund-raising initiative to build a $17 million alumni event center at Baylor Stadium.

Regents also approved up to $2.5 million for site preparation, a feasibility study and architectural renderings for the center on the south side of the stadium plaza.

Plans include a 40,000-square-foot multistory glass building with space for meetings and banquets.

Part of original plan

“The alumni event center was part of our original plan, but we were forced to cut it from the project because of the overall cost of construction,” said Ken Hall, senior vice president for university development and strategic initiatives.

“Now, with the great momentum we’re experiencing as Baylor Nation responds to stadium fund raising, seat options and even stadium bricks, we have a renewed sense of optimism and confidence that we can raise the support necessary to fund construction of a new event center for Baylor alumni.”

The center would replace the Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center, and regents announced their decision three days before scheduled mediation regarding that building’s demolition.

A federal judge called for mediation to resolve a dispute between Kurt Dorr, a Baylor alumnus from Naperville, Ill., the Baylor Alumni Association and Baylor University.

Baylor insists it needs the site of the Hughes-Dillard Alumni Center to create a plaza leading to a pedestrian bridge that will connect the main university campus to Baylor Stadium, across the Brazos River.

Restraining order

Dorr successfully obtained a temporary restraining order that halted demolition, and it remains in effect until mediation is completed.

In other action, regents approved $2 million for additional design work on the planned $100 million Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, new home of the Hankamer School of Business. The university expects to break ground on the 275,000-square-foot building by December.